Kanji

💡 Break 壁 down and you get 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground. Picture a mound of earth raised from flat ground, put 壁 inside it, and let that scene stand for "wall" — wall. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Picture a boundary wall with a small roofed gateway standing open in the middle of it: that is what 塔 means — tower. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground, and beside it 荅 (answer / match) — a covering pressed down flush over a shoot of grass, fitted just right. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture rows of curved roof tiles overlapping down from the ridge: that is what 城 means — castle. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 土 (earth / soil) — a mound of earth pushed up from flat ground. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Picture a house under its roof: that is what 舎 means — building / cottage. Now find the part that anchors it in the character itself, 人 (person) — a person standing on two legs, and beside it 吉 (good luck) — a confident stance held right over an open, smiling mouth. Drop that part into the picture and the shape stops being something separate to memorise.

💡 Break 敷 down and you get 攵 (strike / action) — a hand raised to make something happen. Picture a single hand cupped sideways as if scooping something up, put 敷 inside it, and let that scene stand for "spread" — spread / lay out. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 床 down and you get 广 (building / lean-to) — a roof with one open side, built against a wall, and beside it 木 (tree / wood) — a tree with branches reaching up and roots spreading down. Picture a boundary wall with a small roofed gateway standing open in the middle of it, put 床 inside it, and let that scene stand for "floor" — floor / bed. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 畳 down and you get 田 (rice field) — a field cut into four plots by its paths. Picture a field terraced into steps up a hillside, put 畳 inside it, and let that scene stand for "tatami" — tatami. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 宅 down and you get 宀 (roof) — a roof stretched over the whole house. Picture a building of two storeys, a small roof sitting above a wider one, put 宅 inside it, and let that scene stand for "home" — home / residence. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 宿 down and you get 宀 (roof) — a roof stretched over the whole house. Picture a deep overhanging eave carried on two posts with its rafter ends showing, put 宿 inside it, and let that scene stand for "inn" — inn / lodge. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

💡 Break 泊 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge, and beside it 白 (white / bright) — the first pale light of the sun. Picture a drop of water above rippling waves, put 泊 inside it, and let that scene stand for "stay overnight" — stay overnight. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.